South Sudan: A Slow Liberation [Paperback]

In 2011, after a lengthy struggle, South Sudan became the worlds youngest independent nation. The area and its people had endured a brutal colonial conquest followed by a century of deliberate government neglect and racial oppression. Sudans war of liberationalthough victoriousresulted in many negative economic consequences, especially in rural areas dependent upon humanitarian aid. The violent aftermath of independence has resulted in looting, raids, and massacres in some regions.

South Sudan: A Slow Liberationexamines these problems and provides a revealing, multi-layered description of the current state of the country. Looking specifically at the Jonglei state, South Sudans most mutinous hinterland, Edward Thomas explains how it came to be at the heart of the journey toward state power and liberation and has exemplified South Sudans history as a rebel threat to the Sudanese government. Drawing on hundreds of interviews,South Sudangives a sharply focused, fresh account of the countrys continuing struggle.

Edward Thomashas lived and worked in Sudan and South Sudan for over eight years. He has worked as a teacher, researcher, and human rights worker for Sudanese and international organizations.

A note on terminology

Introduction: Gabriel Anyang remembers his childhood

Part One: Society and State
1. The social landscape
2. South Sudan’s encounter with modernity
3. Development and representation
4. Theories of revolution
5. State and society in Jonglei after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Part Two: Jonglei's Mutinies
6. The life and death of Hassan Ngachingol
7. The civil wars in Jonglei
8. The geography of conflict in Jonglei after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Part Three: Social Transformation
9. Raiding and eating
10. Nyaburjok

Conclusion: Slow liberation